Old Yeller

By Fred Gibson"It's the 1860s, and 13-year-old Travis lives in a log cabin on the Texas frontier with his parents and little brother. It's a hard life, but they're happy with what they've got.One day a dog strays into Birdsong Creek, at the same time Pa leaves on a cattle drive for much-needed cash. Travis is left behind to provide for and protect his brother and mother. At first he wants to drive the big, ugly, thieving dog away, but Old Yeller is cunning, and a clever dog can help Travis protect his family from danger while Pa is away. ​But can Travis protect Old Yeller from the bears, bulls, and wolves that roam the Texas prairie?"Retrieved from clubs.scholastic.com

I don't want to give anything away but many readers ask, "Why did the story end like that?!?!" when they reach the end of Old Yeller and understandably so! If you could talk to the writer, what would you ask Fred Gipson? If you were the author, would you have ended the book differently? How so? Why would an author chose such an emotional, tragic ending to a story? Write your comments bellow.